Internal-combustion engine.



J. A. VIELE.

INTERNAL GOMBUSTLON ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

" `%`%Q" "7 v In f Patented Dec. 2o, 1910. l

J. A. VIELE.

v INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov. 2s, 1909.l

979,359. Patented Demo, 1910.

4 SvHEETS-SHEBT 2.

J. A. VIELE.l INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29.1909.

Patented 1)e0..20,1910.y

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

2 .aimes/. Mmmm y Homey. i

J. A. VIELE.

INTERNAL ooMBUsTIoN'BNGINE.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2Q, 1909. 979,959. 9

Patented Dec.20, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, A Mmw Mrz/esse:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. VIELE, OF WARREN. PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERN AL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.l

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented D33,- 20 1910.

Application filed November 29, 1909. Serial No. 530,300.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES A.

V1ELE, a citizen of the United States, residin `at lVarren, in thecounty of Warren and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Internal-Cornbustion Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to gas or gasolene engines, and the objects, ofthe improvements are to provide simple, durable and positive means t'orreversing and starting the engine in either direction. l The @as intakeand exhaust valves in engines ci? this type are frequently operated bymeans of cam shafts located on opposite sides and-parallel with the maincrank shaft, with which the cam shafts are geared; and in the presentinvention the reversing of the engine is accomplished by a directrotation, without endwise shifting, of the cam shafts, with reference tothe correlated mechanism. The usual timing device for the electricigniters is suitably cordinated by a gearing connection, preferably withthe intake cam-shaft; and a novel distributing valve is provided foradmitting compressed air into certain combustion chambers for startingthe engine, which valve is likewise cordinated by a connecting gearing,preferably with the exhaust camshaft, All these parts are so arrangedthat vthe direct rotation of the cam-shafts for re v'ersing the enginealso turns the timing device and the distributing valve to cordinate thesame for the reverse operation of the engine. And finally, means areprovided for changing the 'action of the exhaust valves of one of eachpair of cylinders to permit a two cycle operation of the engine forstarting thesame by compressed. air.

'The various features ofthe invention, thus briefly set forth in generalterms, and other' ancillary advantages, are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, -showing a preferred embodiment. of thelmprovements in a six-cylinder engine, in which drawings Figure 1 is aplan view, Fig. 2 a right side elevation, and Fig. 3 a left sideelevation, of the engine; Fig. 4, an enlarged plan section of therearmost cylinder on line 4 4, Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5, a ,fragmentaryplan section of the compressed-air distributing valve; Fig. G, adetached -view of the compressed-air distributing valve with the faceplate removed; Fig. 7, a` transverse section of the upper portion of onecylinder, as on v line 7 7, Fig. 4; Fig. v8, a transverse view of thelower portion of one of the cylinders,

as on line 8 8, Fig. 4', also showing the tim- -lng device in sectionand distributing valve laterally to vform a. communicating chamber 3 onone side and an exhaust chamber 4`on the other side, around which partsthe usual cooling water chamber is provided. The vaporized fuel is drawnfrom the carbureter 6 through the pipes 7, drum 8 and intakel port 9,the 4entrance of which port'into the intake chamber 3 being normallyclosed by the intake valve 10 which is provided with thespring-controlled vertical stem 11 adapted -to opera-te endwise in theguide 12. The exhaust port 13 leads from the exhaust chamber 4 to theexhaust drum 14 and the opening -is normally closed by the exhaust valve15 which is provided with the springcontrolled vertical stem 16 adaptedto operate endwisein the guide 17. The piston 18 and connecting rod 1 9of each cylinder yare connected with a crank pin 20 on the main shaft 21of the engine; the crank pins lof the two cylinders of `each pair beinglikewise located with reference tothe main shaft, and the pins of theother pairs being equally spaced therefrom and from each other in theusual manner for vthe successive operation of the cylinders.

IThe lifters 22 and 23 are provided beneath the lower ends of the stems11 and 16 .of the intake and exhaust valves, which lifters are adaptedto slide vertically in the guides 24 and 25, and are provided with therollers 26 and 27 on the lower ends. The

:lesy

longitudinal counter shafts 28 and '29 are journaled below the valvelifters'and are provided with the cams 30'a1'1d 31 having the similarfaces 32, 32zvl and 33, 33EL on 0pposite ends, adapted to operate ontherollers to raise the respective valve .litters when the shafts arerotated in gipposite directions.

. he free upper ends of the steins 34 and of the respective lifters arealined with and adapted to abut the free lower ends of the intake andexhaust valvestenis 11 and A'16,to

raise the saine inv theusual manner; except in the case of one cylinderof each pair, be-

ing the three rear cylinders as shown, wherein the pallet 36 interveiiesbetween the Steins`A of the lifter andthe intake' valve.

The pallet 36 is which relation. vof .the face 'of the pallet is adaptedto abut'the free lower end of the stein l1 of the intake v'alve to raisethe same in lieu of the lifter stern. The outer end of each pallet ispivoted at 37a to a lever 38 which is secured on the shaft 39 which isadapted .to

5 down. upon the 25.

'the

be rotated by .the starting lever 40 to inoven pallet outward so thatthe boss 37 willv slide oii the lifter stein 34 and permit the thinnerfree-.end 41 ofthe pallet to drop saine, the inner side 42 of the bossbeing beveledl or inclined so thata yreverse movementof the lever 38willrcause the boss of the' pallet to again slide upward upon the lifterstein intoitsnornial posithe valve lifter is rendered inoperative to'',naled gear 46, on one end Aof which plate are provided the opposedstops 49 which are when the tion. 'These parts areso larranged thatallet is moved outward to drop .its free en downward upon the lifterstein,

raise the intake valve, thus adapting the :three rear .cylinders tobeastartedby coin- 35 I pressed air as described below.

The reversing gearing includes the main pinion 43 secured on the forwardend .of the main shaft 21, and a gear wheel 44 journaled -onthe forwardends of' each of the cam shafts 248 and 29v and respectively geared withthe main pinion 43 so that each Cain shaft rotates'once fortworevolutions of the main shaft, whereby the intake and exhaust valvesare opened and closed for a four-cycle operation of thek respectivecylinders of 'the' en` gine. A beveled gear 45 is secured on eachy camshaft adjacent to and 4preferably inside the gear wheel 44, Vand asimilar gear 46 is rotatably mounted on the radial journal' 47,

preferably formed onfthe spoke of the gear wheel, which journaled gearis arranged to mesh with the gearsecured tothe camshaft. A plate 48 issecuredon the huhof each jour adapted-toabut alternate sides ofthe webflange 5() formed or secured in veach gearwheel, whereby the rotation ofthe journaled. gear is limited and stopped 1n each direction.

A sliding'sleeve 51 is provided on each cam shaft, preferably outsidethe gearwheel, and i the ends of the connecting bar 52 are pivoted tothe 'sleeve andthe free end of the.

stop-plate. The sleeves are-operated in opposite directions along theshaft by 'means formed with the boss 37` Vwhich normally rests on theupper end of the liftervpin 34, in parts the upper,

thereof.

'of the transverse lever 53 which pivoted.

50, and, when it is desired to reverse the eligine; the reversing leveris thrown to shift the sliding sleeves and rotate the reversingy otherstoplug againstpinions to bring the the other4 side of the web fiange.As the -gear wheels 44 are stopped against rotation by engagement withthe main pinion 43, the rotation of the journaled gear 46 serves t0rotate th'e internieshing gears 45, and with them the cani shafts 28 and29 in oppositex directionsv to such an extent'- that the posit-'ion :ofthe cams thereon is changed with relation to the main shaft and thevalve lifters, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 8, to reverse theoperation of the'engine.

Thecrank shaft 57 is located parallel with and adjacent to the outerside of the exhaust cam shaft 29,0n the crank pins 58 of which Ashaftare pivoted the lift-levers 59, one of which levers is provided -foreach of .the threev rear cylinders, to the upper. ends of which leversare pivoted the starting vlift yokes 60 in the upper ends of which arepivoted the trunnions 61 on 'the sides of the lift vrings 62 whichfreely surround the upper end of the exhaust valve lifter 23 under thevshoulder forined bythe peripheral edge portions 'of the lock .nut onthe upper end lthereof, preferably by screwing on the stein 35 vided.with the roller 64 located 'directly underneath the reverse cain shaft29 and normally below the path of the corresponding Cain 33 thereon, .asshown by full lines in Fig. 8. The parts are so arranged, however, thatby a rotationof the crank shaft 57, the free end of the lever 59 isthrown upward b v thecrank pins 58 to bring the face 64 vin the 'pathofthe cai'n 33, as shown in Fig. 8, and -the depression 'offtliis end ofthe lever by the-'cain33 throws the other end upward and .causes theyoke 60 to raise the lifter 23 and thereby to raise and open theexhaustvalve intermediate the time. it is The free end of the lever 59is proby broken lines opened by the ordinary lifterI 23, whereby Y theexhaust valve is opened twice foreach revolutionof'the cani shaft 29, oionce for each revolution of the main shaft.. which adapts the threecylinders affectedfoi a two-cycle operation for startiiigl with'coinpressed air.' In the norinal 'inoperative position of these parts,the lifting ring 6 2 rests on the upper end of the guide 25 and thelifter Q3 operates freely through it. The crank lever (55 is secured onthelifting shaft 57 and its movements arel coordinated with themovements of the pallet starting lever 40 by the connecting rod 66, sothat when the inlet valve lifters 22 are rendered inoperative, theexhaust valve liftingllevers 59 are thrown into operative position. Oneor more ordinary electric timers 67 are provided on the side -of theengine, the contact pieces 68 of which are connected by suitable wires69 with ordinary sparking plugs 70 extending into the combustionchamber. The switch arm 71 of the timer is secured on the outer end ofthe shaft 7 2 and the beveled pinion 7 3 is secured on the inner endthereof, which pinion meshes with the beveled gear wheel 74 on theadjacent cam shaft as 28, and the partsare vso arange'd and geared thatthe igniting plugs are caused to spark at the proper time withreferenceto the operationiof the engine valves when the cam shaft is beingrotated in either direction. i

Compressed air for starting'the engine is received into the cavity 7 5of the distributing valve 76 from anysuitable source through the supplypipe 77. the same being controlled by the supply valve 78 which may beoperatively coordinated with the cranklever 65 by means of theconnectingubar 7 9 so that the valve is opened when the cranklever isthrown into operativeposition. The distributing valve 7 G is composed ofthe short cylindric case 8O secured on the side of the engine through'the comparatively thick inner head 81 of which are provided threeseveral ports S2, the inner ends of which open into the end of thecylindric cavity of the distributer and in the outer ends of these ports1re connected the 4distributing pipes S3 which lead and open through thecheck valves 84 into .the coin'- b'ustion chamber, preferably in theexhaust extensions thereof as shown. of each of the three rearcylinders. The axial shaft S5 is provided through the inner head of thevalve, on the inner end of which shaftis secured the beveled pinion 86which meshes with the beveled gear wheel S7 secured on one of the camshafts as 29; and on -the outer end of the valve shaft is securedthevalve diskSS which normally closes the openings ofthe portsl 81 .and isprovided with the annular slotSSl which is adapted to register with theopenings of the ports at. a time, to permit the compressed air to flowfrom the cavity S2 of the valve to the proper combustion chambers. Theseparts are so arranged and geared that compressed air will How into cachof the three. combustion .chambers ward stroke, in either direction theengine may be run.

To start the engine, the starting lever 40 'is thrown from its normalorrunning position, to its operative position, which serves to slide` thepallet 36 outward to render the intake valve lifters of the three rearcylinders inoperative, to rotate the crank shaft 57 to throw 'the roller64 in the path of the exhaust cams, and to open the compressed airsupply valve 7S;` which admits the air into the combustion chambers fora two-cycle onering at least six cylinders, intake valvesland..

exhaust valves for the several cylinders, a main shaft common to all thecylinders. counter-sliafts geared to the main shaft and having actuatingIcams thereon adapted to open the valves for a four-cycleoperation ofthe engine, means for supplying compressed ,air to .at least three ofthe cylinders for ar two-cycle operation thereof, means independent ofthe cam shafts for rendering inoperative the intake-valve actuating-camsof the three cylinders, and means for opening the exhaust-valves of thethree cylinders for the two-cycle operation, all for operating theengine -in either direct-ion.

2. A11-internal combustion engine including at least six cylinders,intake valves and exhaust valves for the several cylinders, a` mainshaft common to all the cylinders. counter-shafts geared to the mainshaft and lia-ving actuating cams thereon adapted to open the valves fora four-cycle operation of the engine. means for supplying compressed airto at least three of the cylinders for a two-cyclel operation thereof,means independent of the cam shafts for rendering 1noperative theintake-valve actuating cams of the three cylinders, and means foropening the exhaust valves of the threeicylimlcrs for the two-cycleoperation.

3. An internal combustion engine including at least three cylinders,intake valves a nd exhaust valves for the several cylinders` a mainshaft common to all the cylinders. counter-shaftsgeared to the mainshaftand vhaving actuating cams thereon adapted to open the valves for afour-cycle peration. means for .supplying compressed air to thecylinders for a two-cycle operation. means independent of the cam shaftsfor rendering inoperative the intake-valve actuating cams, and means foropening the exhaustvalves of the cylinders for the two-cyclecounter-shafts geared to the main shaft and having actuating camsthereon adapted to open the valves for a four-cycle operation, means forsupplying compressed airto the cylinders for a two-cycle operation,means independent of the cam shafts for rendering inoperative Atheintake-valve actuating cams, and means for opening the exhaust-valves ofthe cylinders for the two-cycle operaton.

5. An internal combustion engine including at least six cylinders,intake valves and exhaust ,valves forthe several cylinders,

rmechanism to directly open the intake and exhaust valves for a-four-cycle operat1on of the engine, means independent of the cam shaftsfor rendering inoperative the intakevalve openingmechanism of 'at leastthree cylinders, means for opening the exhaust valves for a two-cycleoperation of the three cylinders, and valve-controlled compressed airinlets for a two-cycle operation of the three cylinders, all adapted tooperate the engine in either direction.

6. An internal combustion engine including at least six cylinders,intake Valves and exhaust valves for the several cylinders, mechanism todirectly open the intake and exhaust valves for a four-cycle operationof the engine, means independent of the cam shafts for renderinginoperative the intakevalve opening mechanism of at least threecylintlers, means to open the exhaust valves for a. two-cycle operationof the three cylinders, and,valve-controlled compressed air inlets for atwo-cycle operation of the three cylinders.

7. An internal combustion engine including at least three cylinders,intake valves and exhaust valves for the several cylinders, mechanism todirectly open the intake and exhaustvalves `for a four-cycle operationof the engine, means independent of the cam shafts for renderinginoperative the intakevalve opening` mechanism, means to lopen theexhaust valves for a two-cycle operation, and valve-controlled.compressed air inlets for a two-cycle operation, all adapted to operatethe engine in either direction.

S. An internal combustion engine including at least three cylinders,intake valves and exhaust valves for the several cylinders1 mechanism todirectly open the intake and exhaustvalves for a four-cycle operation ofthe engine, means independent of the cam shafis for renderinginoperativethe intake- `valve opening mechanism, means to open the exhaust valvesfora two-cycle operation, and valve-controlled compressed air inlets fera two-cycle operation.

A9. A valve-operating mechanism for the intake-valves and exhaust-valvesof a -multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine including a mainshaftcommon to all the cylinders, counter-shafts pertaining to eachseries of valves and gearedI to the main shaft, cams on'thecounter-shafts having similar faces on opposite ends adapted to actuatethe valves tooperate the engine in reverse directions, and means fordirectly rotating the counter-shafts with reference to the intergearedmechanism, to reverse the direction of operation of the engine andintergeared mechanism.

10. A valve-operating vmechanism for 'l the intake-valves andexhaust-valves of a multiple-cylinder internal-combustion engineincluding a main shaft common to all the cylinders, counter-shaftspertaining to each 'series of valves and geared to the main shaft, camson the counter-shafts having similar faces on opposite ends adapted toactuate the valves to operate the engine in reverse directions, a pinionon the main shaft, intergeared Wheels journaled on the counter-shafts,beveled gears secured on the counter-shafts, intermeshing beveled gearsradially j ournaled in the Wheels, and means for rotating the` radiallyjournaled gears, thereby to rotate the counter-shafts in oppositedirections in the intergeared Wheels.

11. A valve-operating mechanism for the intake-valves and exhaust-valvesof a multiple-cylinder internal-combustion engine including a main shaftcommon to all the cylinders, counter-shafts pertaining to each series ofvalves 'and geared to the main shaft, cams on the counter-shafts havingsimilar faces on opposite ends adapted to actuate the valves to operatethe engine in reverse directions, a pinion on the main shaft,intergeared wheels journaled on the countershafts, beveled gears securedon the countershafts, intermeshing beveled gears'radially journaled inthe Wheels, and means for rotating the radially journaled gears, thereby,to rotate the counter-shafts in the intergeared. Wheels.

12. A valve-operating mechanism for the i intake-valves andexhaust-valves of a multiple-cylinder internal-combustion,engineincluding a main shaft common to all the cyl'- inders, counter-shaftspertaining to each. series of valves and geared to the main shaft, camson the counter-shafts having similar faces on opposite ends adapted toactuate the valves to operate the engine in reverse directions andgearing connections between the main shaft andthe counter-shafts Wherebythe counter-shafts may be rotated in opposite directions to change theirposition with relation to the main shaft.

13. A Valve-operating mechanism for the intake-valves and exhaust-valvesof a multiple-cylinder internal-combustion engine incam action.

able valve lifter,

cludinga'niain shaft common to all the cylinders, counter-shaftspertaining to each series of valves-and geared to the main shaft, camson the. counterfshafts having similar faces onopposite ends adapted toactnate the valves to operate the engine in reverse directions andgearing connections bet-Ween the main shaftl and thecounter-shaftWhereby the 4counter-shafts may be rotated to change theirposition ivith relation to .the

main shaft. l.

14. An engine including a vertically-movable valve litter, a shaft belowthe' lifter` and having a cam thereon lifter, a lever on a mo 'ablepivot adjacent to the shaft. and a normally inoperative yoke pivoted toone end of the lever and adapted to raise the lifter by an oscillationof the lever, the free end of the lever extending beloiv `the shaft andadapted to bemoved by the lever` pivot into thezpath of the cam to raisethe lifter intervening the direct including a vertically-mova shaftbelowthe lifter and having a cani thereon adapted to raise the lifter, a.lever adjacent to the shaft, and a to one l5. An engine lifter by anoscillation of the lever, the free end ofthe lever extending below theshaft and adapted to be moved into the path of the cani to raise thelifter intermediate the direct cam action. 'y

1G. An internal combustion engine includ- -ing at-least six cylinders,-intake valves and exhaust valves for the several cylinders, a mainshaft common to all the cylinders, nonshifting counter-shafts gearedl tothe mainV shafts and having actuating cams thereon adapted to open thevalves for a four-cylinder operation of the engine, means foi' supplyingcompressed air to at least three of the cylinders for y a two-cycleoperation thereof, means for .rendering inoperative the .intake-valveactuating-cams of the three cylinders, means for opening theexhaustvalves of the three cylinders for thetwo-cycle operation, andmeans for rotating the countershafts with reference to the intergearedmechanism to reverse the direction of operation of the engine.

17. An internal combustion engine including at adapted -to raise theleast three cylinders, intake valves and exhaust valves for the severalcylinders,

a main shaft common to all the cylinders,

non-shifting counter-shafts geared to the main shaft. and havingactuating' cams thereon adapted to .open the valves for a -fourcycleoperation ofthe engine, means for supl plying compressed air to atleastthree of the cylinders for a -two-cycle operation thereof, meansfor .rendering inoperative the intakevalve actuating cam of the threecylinders, means for opening the exhaust valves of the three cylindersfor the tivo-cycle operation, and means for rotating the counter-shaftswith reference to the intergeared mechanism to reverse the direct-ion ofoperation of the engine.

18. An internal combustion engine including at least three cylinders,intake valves and exhaust valves for the several cylinders, a main shaftcommon to all the cylinders,

non-shifting counter-shafts geared vto the' main shaft and havingactuating cams there- Von adapted to open the valves-for a four-j cycleoperation,l means for supplying compressed air to the cylinders for atwo-cycle operation, means for rendering inoperative the intake-valveactuating-cams,vineans for opening the exhaust-valves of tlie cylindersfor the' tivo-cycle operation, and means for rotating thecounter-shaftsWit-h reference to the intergeared mechanism to reverserection of operation of the engine.

ing at least three cylinders, intake valves and exhaust valves for theseveral cylinders, a main shaft common to all the cylinders,non-shifting counter-shafts geared to the main shaft and havingactuating cams thereon adapted to open -the valves for a fourcycleoperation, means for supplying compressed air'to the Acylinder for atwo-cycle operation, means for rendering inoperative the intake-valveactuating cams, means for opening the exhaustlvalves for the two-cycleoperation, and means for rotating the counter-shafts with reference tothe intergearedmechanism to reversethe direction of rotation of theengine.

J AMES A. VIELE.

lVitnesses 'RUTH A. MiLLnR,

J H. BISHOP.

the di- 19. An internal combustion engine includof the cylinder

